Gramma/Personal Demons/Cold Reading (14 Feb. 1986)

In "Personal Demons", a blocked writer copes with destructive black-clad creatures that can only be seen by him. In "Cold Reading", an understudy copes with radio director Nelson Westbrook's insistence on real sound effects.

Directors:

Bradford May, Peter Medak,

Writers:

Harlan Ellison (teleplay), Stephen King (short story),

Stars:

Barret Oliver, Darlanne Fluegel, Frederick Long

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Barret Oliver	...	Georgie (segment "Gramma")
Darlanne Fluegel	...	Mom (segment "Gramma")
Frederick Long	...	Gramma (segment "Gramma")
Martin Balsam	...	Rockne S. O'Bannon (segment "Personal Demons")
Clive Revill	...	Agent (segment "Personal Demons")
Joshua Shelley	...	Herman Gold (segment "Personal Demons")
Tommy Madden	...	Creature #1 (segment "Personal Demons")
Marlena Giovi	...	Widow (segment "Personal Demons")
Penny Baker	...	Pam (segment "Personal Demons")
Stephen Flanigan	...	Harry (Segment "Personal Demons")
Billy Curtis	...	Creature (segment "Personal Demons")
Gary Friedkin	...	Creature (segment "Personal Demons")
Kevin Thompson	...	Creature (segment "Personal Demons")
Daniel Frishman	...	Creature (segment "Personal Demons") (as Dan Frishman)
Lou Carry	...	Creature (segment "Personal Demons")

Storyline

In GRAMMA, a long-standing family tradition is passed to the next generation when young George looks after his invalid grandmother during his mother's absence. Blocked hack writer Rockne O'Bannon is plagued by destructive PERSONAL DEMONS that only he can see. During the heyday of radio, a director plans a COLD READING of a play with authentic special effects.

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Plot Keywords:

writer | demon | grandmother | party line | shadow | 

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Genres:

Sci-Fi | Fantasy | Mystery | Thriller | Horror

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 February 1986 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Persistence of Vision Films (I), CBS Entertainment Production

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Neither "Gramma" nor "Personal Demons" have an opening narration, at either the beginning or the end. "Cold Reading" has no closing narration.

User Reviews

Spooky doings

Barrett Oliver, the cutie pie from THE NEVERENDING STORY, plays a boy left in charge of his dying grandmother. He makes her a cup of tea but spills it. When he goes to clean it up, he realizes granny's terrible moans and weird mutterings have ceased. He has been reading from a book of hers called The Necromicon, which should give you an idea where the plot is headed. When he goes to check on her, she appears quite dead. Little does he know. We never get a good look at grandma, and the only other performer in this taut little tale is Darlane Fluegel as Oliver's mother, who appears for a minute at the beginning and end. So young Oliver is forced to carry the episode, and he does an admirable job of it, aided and abetted by spooky lighting, unearthly howls and suspenseful music. A nice tip of the hat to Lovecraft.